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PARIS

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:54:00 GMT

FRIDAY 22.5.2009

We waited up for amber and sam last night they arrived about 1130 and we talked until about 2.00a.m., then to bed and late sleep in today, had breakfast at the cafe down the road where Amelie was filmed, then off our to Versailles. We caught the train out there and it wasnt too far to the palace from the station, the lines were amazing. Had a good look around and then had lunch out there and came back to montmatre in the arvo. Cheese and biscuits and of course more wine - then out for dinner to a lovely Indian restaurant and back to our apartment, more talking and drinks.

SATURDAY

Amber and sam over for breakfast (a big sluggish this morning) then to Sacre Coeur, loads of people around here but the view from up here was amazing looking all over paris. Crepes for lunch, powerade and milkshakes. Nana nap in arvo and amber and sam over for pre dinner drinks. We just love this area, very lively and colourful, sam and amber hadnt stayed in montmatre before so they really liked it too. Our holiday is coming to a sad end we leave here about 9.00a.m. tomorrow to catch our midday flight home via singapore and get into melbourne 7.30p.m. monday.

PARIS

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:06:00 GMT

THURSDAY 21.5.2009

Had a great farwell dinner last night, nearly everyone has flown out this morning and we move up to Montmatre today. Paris is everything I thought it would be, beautiful, loads of atmosphere and extremely expensive. We caught a taxi to montmatre at around midday and booked into our little apartment, its very cute and probably a bit bigger than I thought it would be, Beth the lady who owns it is a real character, we arrived around 12.15 (and today is a bank holiday here) and she said have you heard of chapel (this is Thursday!!), she said is our tradition on a public holiday or weekends we meet friends at La Mascotte for chapel (its a bar and restaurant) where the wine is good, settle in and meet me there at 1.00p.m. so that was great fun! Then off for lunch at their sister restaurant and then to do some food shopping, the fruit here is just amazing, I bought loads of berries and cherries, cheeses, meats and breads and things and then we meandered back for a nana nap. We had a walk around in the evening, pletty going on around here, some parts are "red light" but its all a bit of fun. We await Amber and Sams arrival tonight they get here around midnight, and are staying literally across the street.

PARIS, PARIS

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:28:00 GMT

TUESDAY 19.5.2009
On the tour by 8.15, was really terrific gave us really good bearings of Paris, went past all the main sites stopping off at quite a few, these bus drivers are just amazing. The tour included entry and up the Eiffel Tower, we are priority queue which was great as the queues to everything here are pretty bad, the view from here was fabulous. Lunch from 1-2 then onto the boat on Seine at the back of our hotel for an hours cruise up the Seine past all the sites from that angle, it was sooo hot in that glass covered boat we nearly expired, couldnt wait to get off. It was probably only 22 but all enclosed it was terrible. Then back to hotel and we walked for about an hour and a half to the Latin quarter and had a lovely dinner there at a restaurant that was recommended and then a long walk home again in time to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up with its flashing lights, just beautiful.
WEDNESDSAY 20.5.2009
Had lovely sleep in until John woke me to read me the emails, 7.30 so up and breaky and headed out for some exploring. One of the girls on our tour booked before they left home to go the posh restaurant up the Eiffel Tower last night (shes one who has had this bug twice and still got it) nearly threw up and couldn't eat her crayfish as she felt so bad, what a waste I think the cheapest menu here is $165 Euro a head, she cant wait to get home. John and i havent used soo much of that bottled handwash stuff in our lives (Mary would be proud of us) and as yet we havent got the bug. Walked down south of the Latin Quarter to the Rue Mouttefard produce market, that was terrific, all those yummy cheeses, meats, fruit and froie gras and had lunch down there, that took us nearly two hours and then home via the Seine, Notre Dame, the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and United Nations square then back to hotel arriving back at 3.30pm. The weather is just magic 24 today and I think forecast is for 24 until we leave. Time for a bit of a rest and out for our farwell dinner tonight with everyone at 6.30 to Chez Francoise, Tomorrow we leave the Pullman and head up to our booked accomodation in Montmatre and Amber and Sam come over from London tomorrow night which we are really looking forward too, they have just come back from Las Vegas in time to meet us here which is fantastic.

TRIER TO PARIS

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:32:00 GMT

Monday 18.5.2009
Up early bags out by 6.,45a.m. and on the road by 8.15, to Luxemberg for a short tour of the city and old town with fortress, the view was just fabulous and then some free time in the Grand Duchy and back on road by 11.00a.m. Not far to go over French border (Luxemberg is only 900 odd square miles) and see a huge nuclear reactor belching smoke out. From then on the countryside was lovely undulating, rich green fields and then through the champagne region with loads of vineyards. Arrived in Paris arounnd 5.00p.m. and after briefing our free time. We are so close to the Eiffel Tower you can nearly touch it out of our hotel window (no wonder the rack rate is 670 euro a night - insane) very close to loads of things, talk a lovely walk for an hour or so and had a couple of glasses of wine out on the terrace of a restaurant, then went on and had dinner at another restaurant, it was in cheap eats of Lonely Planet, lovely food, two courses each and it was $230.00, we'll have to get on the bagettes I think. Back to hotel around 1030 for an early night, tours tomorrow of paris and a seine cruise so a pretty full day, then we are FREE!!!!

ZELL TO TRIER

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Sun, 17 May 2009 15:48:00 GMT

Sunday 17.5.2009

Another great night had by all last night. The Mayor of zell came on board prior to dinner to welcome us all to his town with two wine princesses to give a talk and then little black cats performed (kids no older than 6 doing dances dressed in cat outfits). The black cat is famous in this town. Then after dinner over to the town square to the wine fountain, we were all given tickets for more wine! The mayor told our cruise director it is the most lively lot they have had in town, half the town people turned out as well and all very interested in us. The local orchestra played for a couple of hours including Aussie anthem. As the night wore on and after much dancing we all retired to the ship for more music and dancing, 3.00a.m. to bed and awoke in Bernkastel for an early morning tour of this pretty village and sailed onto Trier where we have had another walking tour of the oldest city in Germany. We have our ships farwell dinner tonight and up early tomorrow and onto Paris, we leave Germany and travel through Luxomberg to Paris.

KOBLENZ TO ZELL

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Sat, 16 May 2009 14:51:00 GMT

Saturday 16.5.2009
We are now on the Mosel River after having left Koblenz late last night. Koblenz is the junction of the Rhine and the Mosel. This morning docked early in Cochem, on the tour at 8.15a.m., our partners from last night did not make it. My knee is a bit tender this morning must have had something to do with that twisting last night. Our guide took us through the Reichsburg castle, which overlooks the Mosel River and Cochem, this would have to a highlight (we have had plenty of these) it is restored and has some amazing furniture in it. The view from here overlooking Cochem and the river is just magnificent. We have so many photos we are going to have to edit heaps, then after the castle a walking tour through the cobbled, narrow little streets. Very touristy here but you can see why. Back to the boat for lunch at 1.00p.m. and then set sail for Zell, the scenery is just magic, hundreds of vineyards along this very famour wine growing area and some are just about vertical, would hate to be picking grapes here. Our cruise director tells us we have some entertainment tonight from Zell before our dinner, then we have our Moselle Dinner and then the winegrowers from around Zell are putting on a little wine festival in a marquee near where we dock after dinner, so looks like it wil be another big night!!!!

WERTHEIM TO KOBLENZ

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:08:00 GMT

Friday 15.5.2009
We have to pinch ourselves sometimes, visiting all these amazing places. We had a classical trio entertain us last night, they were terrific, we are so lucky to have all these fantastic entertainers every other night, there is always something on before and after dinner. We docked in at Mainz very early this morning, after John got up at 2.00a.m. to see us sail through Frankfurt (and also to make a couple of phone calls). We docked very close to the city centre of Mainz so we did a 1 1/2 hr walking tour taking in St Martins Cathedral, the old town (that has been rebuilt after the war) and the Gutenberg Museum where there is the first printed bible and also gave demo of how Gutenberg invented printing and how it was done, very interesting and then some free time to explore the town. Then back on board 12.15, sail 12.30 and then another lunch, it never ceases to amaze the fantastic variety of meals we have on this ship and also cheeses etc. We sailed to rRuedesheim this afternoon for a tour of Siegfried's mechanical musical museum. This was fascinating, the guide was terrific and showed us how the different music machines worked and played quite a few of them. The town was built on the side of the hill and the walk back to the ship was lovely going along very narrow cobble stoned streets. The ship left Ruedesheim at 5.30p.m. for Koblenz, this would have to be one of the most scenic stretch, dozens of castles ruins along the way, looking up from the ship from the Rhine Gorge, very steep slopes with vineyards along the way. Docked at Koblenz about 8.30p.m. and after dinner there was a walking tour of Koblenz, we peeled off about half way with another couple and found ourselves in a gorgeous little pub, packed in like sardines, the music was great and after a few Becks, back to the ship to sail at 11.30p.m. wth a few minutes to spare. Sailed overnight to Cochem.

WURZBURG TO WERTHEIM

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Thu, 14 May 2009 13:35:00 GMT

Thursday 14.5.2009
Docked early in this quaint village. After breakfast took a long walk around the village and up the hill to the ruins of the castle, some from the ship took a tour elsewhere to Miltenberg, then browsed the shops and went to a fellows shop who gave us a demonstration of glass blowing on the ship last night. Absolutely beautiful pieces in his shop but a little over the top most of them. Then after lunch went and explored more of Wertheim, it sits between two mountains, with the ruins of the castle on one side and very steep vineyards up the other, it was just so nice to wonder around on your own and soak up the atmosphere. Then back on board for sailing at 3.00p.m. we sail all afternoon and night going through Frankfurt about 4.00a.m. and then dock in Mainz tomorrow.

MUNICH TO WURZBURG

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:40:00 GMT

Tuesday 12.5.2009
Got to bed at 2.00a.m. after a bit night, dinner, dancing etc and our phone went at 7.00a.m. Lorraine wanting to tell me about her diet!!! We weren't going to do the tour today but seeing as we were awake got up and got to the bus for 8.15a.m. tour.
Awoke in a little village outside Bamberg this am, terrible trouble with lochs apparently overnight ( I saw the captain looking very stressed about 1.30a.m. getting coffee in the lounge) so we are met here and taken on a tour of Bamberg and boat will meet us there early arvo. Apparently this is the capital of beer - loads of breweries. This rabbit warren of a place was really worth seeing - only a very small percentage of this place was touched by the war - so all these ancient buildings all still intact. We were taken to a brewery to try their smoked beer - bit like a glass of bacon - I guess that was appropriate since it was only 9.45a.m. (we were supposed to do this tour in the arvo but because of the lock problem did it this am) 1/2 litre was enough - couldn't imagine having too many of these. Then back to the boat for lunch (after taking a whirl wind trip around the surrounding fields of Bamberg, had trouble finding the boat as they couldnt get to the port at Bamberg and bus dropped us near some fields and we walked to where the boat was moored. By the way the old guy arrived back on the ship today - seems ok, but his wife stayed on the ship the whole time!!! Then at 5.00p.m. we had a lecture and more tastings on Bavarian beer onboard! Internet is still very intermittent.
Wednesday 11.5.2009
Captain still doesnt look that pleased I think he has been up for hours on end but has now two backup captains. John asked him how things were going and he said "dont ask". Between the locks that malfunctioned and the electrical problems - not good.
We are promised internet sometime today. Up and out by 8.15a.m. to the Residenz of the former Prince Bishops, now declared a world heritage site, so we can get our tour through before all the normal tourists are allowed through. This was the most amazing place, it really was so over the top it was ugly (inside that is). Again we were met at a little place outside Wurzburg and bused into Wurzburg where the ship met us later. Bäck for lunch and then we went for a 2 hour walk around Wurzburg just soaking up the atmosphere. Sailing through this area is just lovely with very steep terraced vineyards up either side of the Main River, apparently this is a very famous wine growing area mostly whites, and the people around here preferred to be called Franconians rather than Germans. We get plenty of lovely wine on the ship not had a bad one yet! You have no idea what some of these woman buy - one woman bought a raincoat for $377 Euros (not much different to mine which was $25), another one who lives in far north QLD has bought a few pairs of shoes, another Imelda Marcos, none of them under $200 Euros and they are awful. So double this and boy are they expensive pieces of clothing. I think 3/4 of the ship has had some sort of cold/flu, it started with some nurse barking like a dog down at Gallipoli and it has just gone wild from there, we wake up every morning thinking another day has gone without getting it but I dont know how we will escape it. Sail tonight for Werthaim.

NUREMBERG TO MUNICH

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Mon, 11 May 2009 14:52:00 GMT

Monday 11.5.2009
Up early this am to get the 8.50a.m. bus down to Nuremberg station to catch the fast train to Munich,
apt has organised all this. The trip took about 1 hr and train reached top spead of about 294km (not like the old red rattler from Wang to Melbourne nearly 3 hrs) travelling through very beautiful countryside. We arrived into Central station and got the underground to Marienplatz (which is the centre of the city) and were lucky enough to hear and see the Glockenspiel, that was really great to see. It only goes on 3 times per day. Then a very short walking tour and off to lunch The Hofrauhaus, probably the best known restaurant in Munich. Another four course lunch and beer (the beer is pretty good here) and then some free time to have a look around. They have a great market here like the Vic in a way. Managed to buy a couple of pairs of Birkenstocks, we havent had a lot of time for shopping (thank god John says). Then back to Nuremberg on the fast train, maybe time for a nana nap before more food and wine. Sail tonight to Bamberg

MELK TO NUREMBURG

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:49:00 GMT

Friday 8.5.2009
Pulled up real good this am, must have had something to do with good lubrication at that beer garden after the ride.
Well we are now in germany at Passau 2227km along the Danube. After having sailed from Melk to Linz overnight, up and on bus by 8.15a.m. for a two hour drive south to Salzburg, enroute going through some of the most beautiful countryside, lush green fields through the lake district where we stopped at Mondsee where some of the Sound of Music was filmed apparently the church was quite famous and some of the lakes were also in the film. Mondsee sits in a valley with high snow capped alps either side, spectacular. Had a nice coffee and raspberry cake in the lovely sunshine here. Then onto Salzburg for a tour of this city, saw Mozarts birth place and had a good look around this city, it was an absolutely georgeous day 30 degrees and then in our free time as it was quite warm had a long walk through Mirabel Gardens. Back on the bus for another 2 hr drive and met the bus further up (or down) the Danube at Passau having crossed the Austrian/German border about 60km out. Sail overnight and some of tomorrow morning to Regensberg (sleep in tomorrow woohoo!!)
Satuday 9.5.09
Arrived Regensburg around midday after having a well earned sleep in. Then walking tour. Left the tour about halfway through (couldnt take anymore churches) and walked back to the ship with a couple of others and got the guys on the ship to get out a few bikes and went for lovely cycle down the edge of the Danube for about an hour which was fun. Then retired in a lovely beer garden with huge chestnut trees shading it. After dinner on the ship we sail tonight at 11.00p.m
SUNDAY 10.5.2009
We have now left the main Danube River and are sailing the Danube Main Canal to meet up with the Rhine river in a couple of days. We kept losing power on the ship after a big storm the night before last. We also havent had internet for a couple of days and now only in port for the next four days. This morning went over the highest point of the river/canal after going through 15 locks getting through the Franconian alps, the scenery along the way as been just georgeous. When we were at gallipoli 0 above sea level to here 406 metres above sea level. Arrived Roth 1.00p.m. then onto buses to Nuremburg, after getting onto the autoban that runs between Munich and Berlin, for a world war II tour (others took the city tour) which took in the Zeppelin fields, parade ground etc and saw where the Nuremburg trials were, very interesting. We also had a lecture this morning on the ship about Hitler and WWII. Then our guide took us to the main town of Nuremburg and then a scaled down city tour and we then had 1hr or so free time to have a walk around an soak up the atmosphere. Back to the boat at 6.00p.m. Tomorrow we get the ICE fast train from Nuremburg to Munich which is about an hr away. By the way the old bloke is still in the hospital in Melk (and his wife is on the ship!!!!) and he may be able to rejoin us in a day or so.

VIENNA TO MELK

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Thu, 07 May 2009 06:17:00 GMT

Thursday 7.5.2009
We are still in Austria, have sailed from about 1.00a.m. to Durnstein, from here to Melk is a huge wine growing area. By the way the concert last night was very good and quite humerous and Vienna by night was very pretty. Got back to the ship about 11.30a.m., cup of tea (and some people had eats) and to bed to get up on some new adventure. Its going to be about 22 today so pretty good for the bike ride I would say. Talk about geriatrics, of the 6 that joined the ship in buadpest, 4 are very old. They were very late joining us as their flight was delayed 3 hrs from Adelaide so they missed their connections. One guy has fallen and hit a bollard while walking (had stupid shoes on) and cut his head, wouldnt stop bleeding he is on Warfarin, he seems OK, then this morning we have had to get an ambulance, and then airlifted by helicoptoer, to the another guy who is 88!!!, He apparently has ca prostate and has become incontinent nnd weak and cant walk (his wife said he got a chill on the walk yesterday, how stupid is she) . 5.50p.m. back from bike ride, absolutely fantastic, though we were told it would be flat, oh no it wasnt, but beautiful scenery, birds singing through lovely lush green fields with vineyards either side and very sleepy little villages, stopped for a couple of food stops and also coffee break and as we arrived down near the wharf in Melk there was a georgeous little Austrian beer garden (heaven on earth), so the first four of us hopped into the beer garden for a couple of cleansing ales, (we arrived 3/4 hr before our ship) and waited for the rest to arrive, out of 20, 17 finished. All in all had a great day, also arrived in time to join the rest of the ship for a tour of the Benedictine Monks Monastrey here, absoldutely huge and so old. A very quaint town. We sail 10.30p.m. tonight after a wine tasting on board of local wines and dinner and arrive in Linz tomorrow and take a two and half hour bus ride down to Salzburg, whilst others will stay on board, and some go into the Czech Republic for a tour and then we all meet up in Passau Germany tomorrow tonight.

BUDAPEST TO VIENNA

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:20:00 GMT

Tuesday 5.5.2009
After having been in Budapest yesterday we realised that we had just hit the touristy trail, loads of tourists in Budapest, god knows what its like when the season hots up, buses and people everywhere. Today we didnt arrive in Bratislava in Slovakia (ex Czech republic) until about 12.00noon, had a two hour walking tour in this georgeous place, loads of atmosphere and heaps of young people as it is a bit Uni town, after walking for two hours, did a bit of shopping, first place we have come to that is Euros. Then retired to a cafe on the footpath and people watched with another couple off the boat, and had a few beers too!! Sad we havnt some more time here, as it has a great feel to it. Back to the ship for another 5 course dinner, and beer and wine, then we have Aphrodites perform for us in the lounge after dinner then John churned up the dance floor but I was too tired and emotional so went to bed!!
WEDNESDAY 6.5.2009
Docked in Vienna at 7.00a.m. and onto a bus at 8.00a.m. to the city centre for a two and a half walking tour of this very majestic city. Few spots of rain here and its only 17 degrees but good for walking around. Back to ship for lunch and then we took the underground to have a further explore of this beautiful city, Vienna coffee houses very famous here so went to Sacher for a coffee, (thats all we could afford) $16.00 Aus for two lattes. The National library here is just out of this world and there are tons of huge monuments everywhere, the money spent here would be huge. Also went to St Stephen's Cathedral (yes another church) Tonight we have booked to see a Mozart and Strauss concert which we will be seeing in part of the famous Hofburg Palace, (this is the first thing we have had to pay for on this tour) we thought we had to do this being in the city of music around $100 per head which is fine. Early dinner on board tonight at 6.00p.m in preparation for the concert at 8.00p.m. Then tomorrow we sail to the Wachau Valley and stop in Durnstein where most have a tour of this town and others (incl us in a moment of madness I am sure) go onto a 30km bike ride from Dursteiin to Melk where the ship will meet. See how the bot rot is after that one. We have so many geriatrics on this ship that the walking tours are at snail pace so the bike ride might let a bit if gas out of us and we will be ready for the snail pace again.

MOHACS TO BUDAPEST

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:37:00 GMT

Monday 4th May 2009
Docked in Budapest 6.45a.m. then on bus for tour of Budapest and surrounds. Went to the Budpest Opera House stunning place and then we had a private recital which was something and champagne at 9.30a.m.!!!! Budapest is a very beautiful city, with loads of very interesting architectual buildings but like most of the major cities around here were destroyed in World War II and then had to be rebuilt. After taking in Budapest city we drove an hour out of Budapest t to the Puszta (Domony Valley) to an equestrian farm where we were greated with Apricot and plum brandy and a typical Hungarian lunch of Goulash, (and more wine) and desert. Then we had a tour of the entire farm in horse drawn drays and some horseman and horses performed for us, very cleaver. We were joined today with 6 more Aussies from Adelaide and they will be sailing the rest of the trip with us. We sailed at 9.00p.m. and waved goodbye to this beautiful city, its even more stunning by night as we sailed and watched from the top deck.

BELGRADE TO MOHACS

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:03:00 GMT

SATURDAY 2 May 2009
Early morning arrival in Novi Sad 7.00a.m. a lovely town 370,000 people, has a lot of atosmphere, onto bus for walking tour of the main town at 8.15a.m. we all have receivers so we can hear the guide from quite a distance without having to stick right with them, very handy. The main city centre has loads of character with colorful tables and chairs out everywhere in front of restaurants and cafes, a little gypsy girl was eager to get some money off us, but our cruise director took her around the corner to McDonalds and bought her a big bag of food and she seemed pleased with that. Back on boat at 10.30a.m. to cruise the Danube down to a little place called Ilok and by bus to Vukavar in Croatia. In this area the sides of the river are fairly flat and there seems to be loads of little holiday houses with people fishing, picnicing and enjoying themselves with music thumping out, being public holiday yesterday I guess they are all away for the weekend. Ilok a georgeous little village, loads of vineyards and undulating countryside between here and Vukavar. We saw first hand the the devastation to buildings etc from the homeland war wth Yugoslavia and Croatia, some homes have been abandoned others are inhabited but still have bullet holes everywhere in walls of their homes. We were taken to a war museum where there are photographs of a lot of the people who were executed, it was absolutely sickening and just to think that his happed not too long ago 1991-1995. Then a klm down the road to a memorial and cemetary where a mass grave was discovered (in fact there were several in the area) with 200 bodies exhumed theret, youngest being 6 months oldest 104, well that was the crunch for a lot of us, quite a few tears were shed here. A total of 1970 were exhumed in the area, only 1600 identified and 500 people are stilll missing. Our guide was excellent and so full of knowledge and only 20 years old, as he says we can forgive but we will never forget. Then to Vukavar township for a guided tour of what was left of it, a few old buildings but a lot of new ones rebuilt.
SUNDAY 3 May 2009
Had few nice reds last night after our traumatic afternoon tour. Docked in Mohacs, Hungary at 4.00a.m., all our passports were attended to while we slept then upl at 7.00a.m. for breaky and on the bus at 8.30a.m. for a one hour drive to PECS a beautiful city and another walking tour and some free time to explore this lovely town. Very agricultural as we drove through wheat crops, corn, canola and almond trees and also more vineyards and also some three or four quaint little villages. Back to the boat this afternoon and saling through to Budapest Hungary this afternoon and through the night.

VIDIN TO BELGRADE

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:25:00 GMT

THURSDAY 30.4.2009
We have been sailing all night, john got up at 2.30a.m. this morning to see our boat go through its first of 54 lochs on this river cruise, and also to make some phone calls as its absolutely hopeless using skype during day when people are using internet as its just overloaded. We have now travelled 950klm along the Danube and we will be sailing all day today. The scenery along here is quite spectacular we have still romania on one side and now Serbia on the other, tomorrow morning we dock in Belgrade which is the capital of Serbia. There's Yoga class going on this morning but not for us. We have just gone through another huge loch which took as one and half hours to get through. We have another master class tonight, we have a Turkish born fellow on the cruise who is a bit of an expert on Gollipoli, John Basarin and his wife, he has written a few books on the subject from the turkish perspective, and lives in Beaumaris and is attached to Deakin Uni, very nice family and so interesting. Passed through the Iron Gates and the scenery is just spectacular with high sheer cliffs arising up each side of the boat, the actual iron gates of the Danube is only a couple of hundred metres wide but there was one particular spot that was 5kms wide. Had another scrumptous dinner tonight.
FRIDAY 1.5.2009
Awoke this morning having docked in Belgrade now 1170km along the Danube total length being 2850km. Lovely day again nippy in the morning but 23 degrees. After eggs benedict and then a 1 hr lecture from an expect on Yugoslavia etc, gave us a very interesting talk about how the wars have effected Serbia and Belgrade in particular then off on the bus for a tour of a few sites in Belgrade this city has a very nice feel to it loads of street restaurants, cobbled streets and today being their labour day here loads of people out and about. Then back to the ship for lunch and then we headed out for a two hour walk around the city, there was photographic exhibition in the park and then walked around and just soaked up the atmosphere. I was lead to believe from home that all these countries in EU took Euros but not so having a bit of trouble having to change currencies all the time, since Rousse only being in a place for a day. Having all our meals on the ship, you don't need much money so you dont want to change too much and be left with it. Tonight before dinner we have a performance of typical Serbian folk group and then after dinner we have a classical concert, so there is always something on. sail from here tonight at midnight for Nova Sad and then Vukavar in Croatia.

ROUSSE TO VIDIN

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:50:00 GMT

wednesday 29.4.2009 - had a leisurely sleep in today til 7.30a.m. anyway after a few hectic days. We have been sailing all night and most of today docking into Vidin(bulgaria) at 3.00pm, we still have Romania and Bulgaria on each side of the Danube. Did a 6km walk this morning around the deck, have to try and keep these kgs off, the food is just so good. Five course dinners, lunches etc and morning and afternoon teas, and excellent quality but we are trying to refrain as much as we can. All drinks are included over the evening meal but wines seem so much lighter here though we did have a syrah last night which was pretty good. Docked at "Vidin at 2.00p.m. and the got organised for tour at 2.45p.m. went on the fit crew tour, (one bus went up through moutains for about 1 hr drive in bus other one went localy in town) to a place called Belogradchik which is in line for new 7 wonders of the world, just absolutely amazing, the rock formation a bit like olgas, around this fantastic fortress. Sits on a very steep mountain and then its a 400 step walk to the top and the most gorgeous view over the valley below. Vidin is a completely new stop for apt cruises, no souvenir shops in town, a little bit untouched, the kids in the afternoon after school were all out in force saying ""hello". APT have really thought of everything, we saw a local amatuer production in the local fortress when we arrived back from our tour and then after a scrumptous dinner on the boat, they had local performers come in and dance for us, you know gloria does not like to be the centre of attention but was the first to be picked by a little maybe 9 year old to get up and dance the local Bulgarian dance, they didnt make it too hard. So tonight we cross another time zone by 1 hr so we will be 8 hrs behind in the next five hrs. Its 10p.m. and we have just started sailing again and will sail overnight and all day tomorrow through Iron Gates (our largest loch on the cruise) and through the Carpathian mountains.

ISTANBUL TO ROMANIA

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:39:00 GMT

Wednesday 22 April
Met with our tour group at 6.30p.m. and we all went to one of the old cisterns in Instanbul for cocktail party, that was all very lovely, nice wine and food had by all, met some really nice people and were then transferred back to our hotel by 9.00p.m.
Thursday 23 April
Met with our group for a tour of Istanbul, which was great having the guide to give us loads of info on all the sites,Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Grand Bazaar, had some free time after a gorgeous lunch at the Orient Express which is a restaurant housed in the old railway station.
Friday 24 April
7.00a.m. take off from hotel for the trip down to gallipoli, had a couple of pit stops and lunch was in the township of golibulu at a lovely fish restaurant on the boat harbour there. Arrived on the gallipoli pensinsula around 1.00p.m. toured all the sites and war graves at Anzac cove and also lone pine, then we burrowed in at Anzac cove at around 4.30p.m. in preparation for the dawn service at 5.30az.m. the next morning, reached 0 overnight, it was sooo cold, but fortunately apt had provided us with a beanie and a minus 22 degree sleeping bag (plus we had about 5 layers on including thermals), thank god for those georgeous sleeping bags, I think we had about 2 half hour stints of sleep, it was well worth it the dawn service at 5.30am was very moving and quite emotional. There were a few pollies etc there the NZ prime minister keys, stephen smith our defence minister ,warren brown (a cartoonist ) was master of ceremonies and he was excellent, had been over here a week before and researched a lot of info. Lone Pine was a 3.5km walk up the mountain from Anzac Cove and then back again to get our buses at 1.00pm, all buses had to park outside the national park for the night and could only come back in to pick up passengers. It was then onto The Ancient City of Troy, this is on Saturday 25 and all we want is shower and sleep, 2 hours in the bus, was fabulous really worth seeing, and then another hour on bus to our accomodation in Assos. Coming into the motel the grass was long, looked unkept, very ominous. It was really like Faulty Towers, the doors fell off the shower, no cold running water in the basin, dust and crap on floors, scum all over the shower screen (my god this is a 5 star tour) and found everyone had problems in varying degree, so needless to say John had a meeting with all concerned and sorted out a few things and they are refunding that night of our trip and have been laying on the wine etc ever since. It was very fortunate that the Operations Manager from melbourne came on this tour and also his agent here in turkey New Faces so the big boys of both firms were on the tour (because they had never done the dawn service before, had done gallipoli many times before.
Sunday 26 April
After a fantastic sleep (the beds were very clean) we headed back the way had come for 3 hrs or so and had a great lunch in edirne which is a town in the turkey close to the Bulgarian border and then crossed the border at about 3.00p.m. The countryside is just spectacular, so lush and fertile all the fields, green and loads of fields of sunflowers and canola. We headed onto Plovdiv in bulgaria for the night, after we had a walking tour of this town which is very old, we are still finding it hard to get our heads around the age of buildings and things, the history is amazing. The hotel in Plovdiv was quite palatial and we had a great dinner with local girls entertaining us. Was our 29th anniversary today just another day but we had dinner with Maxy and Lorraine.
Monday 27 April
7.00a.m. start setting our to Sofia which is more in central Bulgaria had a tour of this very ancient city and couldnt get over the amount of high rise flats etc that are from the communist times, the buildings are just so ugly. Pushed on to Arbanassy which is just outside Veliko turnovor, it s a very ancient town and has quite a few tourists there because it is just a spectacular setting. Had a traditional Bulgarian lunch, they really load the food on, (and the kgs for us but we are starting to refuse food, we have to) and local entertainment. Then into Veliko Turnovor for a guided tour of that town. We didnt get to our boat until about 6.00pm. It is absolutely luxurious, the cabins are beautiful, this is Amalyra's 4th cruise so she is very new. We had a welcome from our cruise director and Captain and an absolutely fabulous meal with Hungarian wines.
We must say we have met some lovely people but WE ARE DEFINITELY THE YOUNGEST on this cruise. Have had loads of laughs and drinks with a girl and her husband Lorraine and Maxy who we have found out we have mutual friends in Melbourne. We are all australians except there are two kiwis, there are only 66 on the boat and it has a capacity of 130. So there is plenty of room.
Tuesday 28 April
Beautiful sleep in this lovely boat and up and break and head out to Bucharest in Romania 8.30a.m. We are on the boat in Rousse in Bulgaria but we just went to the other side and disembarked and went to Bucharest on the boat, 90 minute drive. It was very interesting to hear all about Romania as it is only 20 years since the revolution and they were under that awful communist before that. The drive was very pleasant but quite different from what we had been through the day before, very spectacular hilly scenery and our trip today was like travelling across the Hay Plains, very flat but not dry like the Hay Plains, all lush green and loads of crops etc.
Bucharest was a very interesting place again from the communist ruling loads of commission flats worse than anything you have seen in Melbourne, layer upon layer of flats, but then you go the palace which is so opulent it is disgusting, the dictator took all the money from the people and built this ginormous place, but he was executed when the revolution happened in 1989 and it was not quite finished so he never got to work or live there. Our guide was fantastic a young university student who studies languages, had quite a sense of humour and gave us a broad view of everything that has happened in Romania, people very friendly here too and most speak a little english (not like my cleaner when she came to Australia). We had a lovely traditional Romanian lunch on a lake in Bucharest and toured the palace, museum and had a very good guided tour of the city and its tourist spots etc. In free time John and I went for a 1/2 hr sprint, we need to walk lots to keep this food off the hips, and had lovely walk along a boulevarde that was very pretty with loads of greenery and fountains. Its our welcome dinner tonight so will send more messages as we go along

singapore to istanbul

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:01:00 GMT

Blake kindly set us up with a BLOG but this is the 5th time I have tried to get something down and it deletes it halfway through my entry, i am exasperated but I will keep trying.

friday in singapore: was very busy day, we met nani and her family including her niece and nephew and also some friends from melbournje who will be living in singapore from july with his work, in arab street for a malay breaklfast, lots of yumny curries and rice and and MORE cows lungs, it was nanis mums favourite restaurant. After that we went off to do some serious shopping for john (all of us it was like a harem) which was successful in that he got his duel sim iphone and also some computer things he needed. S0 after all that we left nani and family and headed back to our hotel to freshen up and meet Liv (Keeley and Ranis godmother) for dinner, after a couple of drinks at a local establishment at robertson quay hwere we were staying and then onto clarke quay for a yummy indian meal and after much talking etc we left there at about 1130p.m.

saturday: Gloria had already booked the Tippling Club from melbourne, liv had heard about it but hadn't been so she joined us for a fabulous lunch, one of the partners used to work for vue de monde and the food did reflect this style, yummy bits and pieces in between courses (it could be a bit prohibitive for dinner $150 plus a head) but the lunch option was just great 2 courses for 29, 3 for 49 with a glass of wine. We then walked back into orchard road which was a few km and left liv at the station and headed back to our hotel to get organised for our 1130p.m. flight to Istanbul.

sunday arrived Istanbul at 7.45a.m. negotiated their train and tram network to get to our hotel and were there by 9.00a.m. which waspretty good, we managed OK with the language ect though the ticket guy at the halfway mark was a little exasperated with us but we managed. then we had a poke around where we were staying and had a some breakfast as our room wasnt ready until about 11.00 and then went exploring. Istanbul is a very likeable city and quite pretty,the history is amazing, loads of mosques.

monday we were up early after having had an early night the sunday night. caught the ferry to the bosphorus which is about 25kms out of istanbul in between the europe side and asian side of turkey. A very pretty journey along the water taking in all the sites along the way until we came to a little fishing village sariyer and thats where we got off and had lunch and then walked a few km along the shore back to an amazing little museum which is a private collection of ceramics, dress and loads of other things, was worth going to and then we caught the bus back to istanbul. the weather has been great around 26 day .

tuesday we have done all the touristy things today, blue mosque, hippodrome, grand bazaar etc etc, bought a lovely three tone gold bangle at the bazaar, am very happy with that. Also did the spice bazaar which is an amazing place as well with all the yummy nuts and spices, john managed to buy some levi pants and we had a tailor take them up all for $20. We leave this hotel tomorrow ( we are in the old town of Sultanamet) and book into the Ritz carlton to join our tour tomorrow night. then we have another two nights here before heading down to gallipoli on friday. Prices here are very good, much the same as home, somethings being cheaper.

John and Gloria's Europe trip

john@yarravillas.com.au (Bali Yarra Villas) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:03:20 GMT

Hi everyone, we left on our trip Thursday 16th of April. We flew to Singapore on Singnt to apore Airlines which were very good, service great videos a bit scratchy. Arrived in Singapore at 3:45pm which was 15 minutes ahead of schedule then we went to SIA check in counter for transfers to our Hotel.

Hotel: We stayed at The Gallery Hotel at Roberson Quay, very nice well, appointed and good location would recommend.

After checking in caught up with Nani and her brother and they took us out to her Mums for dinner, which was very nice EXCEPT for the cows lungs, lovely beef curry, prawn and bean curry with sambals etc and some lovely fruit and coffee and tea.